May 28, 2019

2 dead, 17 injured in Japan knife attack

Orion Rummler

In this image, a crowd of policeman stand around a pool of blood on the concrete. — Forensic police investigate the crime scene in Kawasaki on May 28, 2019. Photo: Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images

At least 17 schoolchildren and 2 adults were stabbed in Kawasaki, Japan, on Tuesday morning outside a bus stop, the New York Times reports.

The latest: Two victims died from the attack, a 39-year-old parent and an 11-year-old girl. The attacker, described as a man in his 50s, died from a self-inflicted wound. The attack took place as the schoolchildren were waiting for a bus to a local Catholic school.

The backdrop: Knife attacks are more common in Japan than gun violence. The country bans handguns — only allowing shotguns and air rifles — and has strict gun control measures, per the BBC. Gun owners are required to take a criminal background check, mental health tests, a written exam, a full day of classes, a shooting range test, and fulfill other requirements before purchasing a gun.

Go deeper: 2018 was a record year for school gun violence

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2 dead, 17 injured in Japan knife attack

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